You’ve heard the argument from thirsty 18-year-olds a million times or more. “If we’re old enough to serve in the military and die for our country, why aren’t we old enough to go to a bar and drink?” And it carries some credence.
The legal drinking age in our country is commonly disobeyed and sometimes interpreted with blurred vision when it comes to its necessity or effectiveness in preventing underage drinking. Like the intoxicated pleas for repeal from underage drinkers nationwide, the debate rages on.
As of Feb. 1, a new ordinance passed by the Tempe City Council could have adults caught purchasing alcohol for anyone under 21 years of age in Tempe subjected to fines up to $1,500. Does the punishment fit the crime? That depends on your definition of crime.
The logic behind this ordinance is that those under 21 are not yet physically or emotionally capable of consuming alcohol. Therefore, those who aid in the acquisition of said elixirs should face a harsher penalty. Does the Tempe City Council operate under the notion that by eliminating or intimidating the “source,” they’re eliminating the problem? Perhaps if it were that simple, they would be right.
Alas, a popular belief is that underage drinking or binge drinking in general is an effect of tasting the forbidden fruit. Essentially, underage drinking is only a problem because the current legislation makes it a taboo. By saying, “Don’t do this!” the rebellious, underage American taught to reject perceived oppression hears, “the Redcoats are coming!” and continues to indulge in an alcoholic beverage, or several.
Our youth chooses to drink so heavily — to binge drink — because they are told they can’t drink at all. A similar effect is provoked when nations or corporations find themselves facing a shortage of a certain resource or material for production — they buy up all they can get. Similarly, underage drinkers possess a quality familiar to established alcoholics: They don’t know when their next opportunity to drink will surface, therefore they stomach as much as they can (or can’t) handle.
Tempe Coalition, a community group dedicated to reducing underage drinking and drug use, cited multiple studies on the affects of alcohol. Coordinator Bobbie Cassano told The State Press studies show there is a 40 percent likelihood of becoming an alcoholic for those who drink alcohol regularly before age 15 rather than a 7 percent chance for those who begin drinking at age 21.
Ultimately, this ordinance will mean stricter penalties for those adults caught purchasing alcohol for minors, but it would be foolish to believe that it will prevent minors from drinking at all.
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